Legends Report - Inspirational News

Actress Rose Byrne On How Hollywood Is 'Broken'

Actress Rose Byrne, who has starred in such blockbuster films as Bridesmaids, has spoken in a recent interview about the challenges in Hollywood. In particular she raised how those in power were not being asked why female actresses were being paid less and how the drive to make money was leading to the same types of films being made because producers now follow a standard formula.

"I think those questions are really for the producers — why are you paying women less? I feel like actresses often get lumped with these questions, and it’s like, sure, there’s disparity, but you should ask the people in power — they’re the ones who have the responsibility and the power to change stuff.... The only films that the studios are making are about robots and cars; it’s all The Fate of the Furious. And the film industry is a broken system — most films fail. You can have a film packed with every A-lister under the sun, and it can still not work."

The consequences of what Ms Byrne says above have a big impact on the workings of her industry. In particular, those who have the power to change things are not being challenged on their decisions, which means the status quo continues and very little changes. In relation to the films that get made, it seems that innovation and creativity are being sacrificed in order to go for guaranteed success. We can take these lessons and apply them in our own lives too. For example, are we continually looking for something new and challenging which may result in failure, in contrast to simply playing safe?! Successful people achieve their goals precisely because they do something different to the norm instead of just going with the flow. What one new thing can you do over the coming days and weeks? To read more on this story click here...

Soundgarden Singer, Chris Cornell, Dead From Suicide At Age 52

In the late 1980's and early 1990's there were several rock bands who hit the mainstream as part of the 'Grunge' scene that was exploding worldwide, most notably led by the group Nirvana. One of the most successful among these was the group Soundgarden, best known for their hit single Black Hole Sun in 1994 and whose singer, Chris Cornell, sadly and very unexpectedly took his own life this week, age 52. Like many of his musical contemporaries, Mr Cornell had a history of challenges with addictions and spells in rehab that followed a troubled youth and transition into adulthood. Mr Cornell had once described his challenges with drink and drugs to Details Magazine, saying:

“When I transitioned into adulthood – high-stakes emotional responsibilities – I did everything I could get my hands on. It happened without me really noticing it. The thing is, when you pick up the pipe for the first time, you don’t know that that’s your fate. The moment isn’t that dramatic. And then that was it – I didn’t want to care anymore.”

He had sought help for this and become sober in 2003, saying later in 2007:

“It was really hard to recover from, just mentally... I think Audioslave [a later band he formed] suffered from that because my feet hadn’t hit the ground yet. I was sober but I don’t think my brain was clear … It took me five years of sobriety to even get certain memories back.”

Chris Cornell and his wife Vicky later created a foundation that works with vulnerable children facing poverty and homelessness in 2012, showing his desire to give back and help others in struggle too. His life story though is one that reminds us how mental and emotional challenges, especially those developed at a young age, can follow and plague us for many years after if not faced up to and dealt with. As with anything, it also takes consistent self-care and attention to maintain our health and wellbeing, once we've achieved it.

Drink and drugs are common ways people struggling with such things can seek try to escape, but ultimately, none of us can escape the problems we carry around within us and the more help, care and support we can find, the better our chances are of resolving them. For any of us facing any level of mental and emotional challenge, finding help and people we can speak to about this, sooner rather than later, is so important for our ongoing health and happiness. Our thoughts go out to Mr Cornell's wife, children and family at this time. You can watch Soundgarden's song, Black Hole Sun, below. Read more at the Guardian here...and here...

McDonald’s Accused of Child Exploitation & Withdraws Advert

The McDonald’s Corporation has been accused of exploiting childhood bereavement in an attempt to sell its fast food in an advert recently featured on British TV. The withdrawn advert features a teenage boy who is trying to come to terms with his father's passing and is reconciling his differences with the father he has been estranged from. Through the advert, the boy asks a number of questions of his mother regarding his father and is led to believe they have nothing in common until they enter a McDonald's restaurant and the boy discovers they share the same fondness for a menu item. According to a spokesperson for the fast food chain:

"It was never our intention to cause any upset... We are particularly sorry that the advert may have disappointed those people who are most important to us - our customers. We will also review our creative process to ensure this situation never occurs again."

Though the advert has elicited varied and extreme emotional reactions across the UK, what it has revealed is a greater need for empathy and understanding in areas like childhood bereavement and the loss of a loved one. These issues are rarely talked about socially and are often taboo because they call for a greater level of empathy in ourselves and for others - which is not always easy for people to do. McDonald's Corporation has apologised for the advert and, though their motivation has been questionable, what they have unearthed is a chance for us all to learn from this. To read more about on this story click here...

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Having been quite a shy kid growing up, there's nothing more moving to me now than seeing someone start to realise their real potential and believe in themselves a bit more... It's one of the best feelings ever! For me, Legends help us all to see more of what's possible and start to aim that little bit higher in life. It's so important to have fun and enjoy ourselves along the way too... Have fun, never stop learning and share as much as you can with others